Quantum Leap - Vol. 10 Overpowered Awesomeness

C008 Me A Half Dimwit Dum Dum Ring Leader...?!?!?

The duo was diving and swimming while harvesting the freshwater clams that were half the size of my palm. They also brought up some freshwater crabs and crawfish that would be made into seafood broth with some vegetables.

Squidders and Growers...they can't survive too far from any body of water as they earned their liveliHode through both of these means.

*Blip Blip* *Blip Blip*

My interface sounded as an incoming message was received. I opened it up and saw a message from Matilda and her answer was "K"...

"K...? Just a single character to sum up the whole conversation that I had sent to her?

W O M E N...!!! So hard to understand at times and so hard to please...OOOOooooooooo...!!!"

=*=

"Nom...Nom...Nom...These tender pork ribs are terrific Granny...its been so long since I've tasted this when it's cooked in salted beans. We used to have meat every week while fish, chicken and duck every other day. Niceeee...Nom...Nom...Nom..."

"Eat slowly, cutie pie...this family recipe is not going anywhere else, you know, except inside your tummy tum tum...Any news from the boy?"

"He sent me a message yesterday and sent his regards to you. Then he went on and on talking about Will.I.Am, he talked about the farm, he also talked about how the plants said HI to me and so on. He also mentions something about monsters and mining minerals and he gave the boy a dagger and the wooden buckler we got from the spoils and he made the boy as target practice with his archery."

"I don't know what else he said because he kept continuing on and on saying about this and that and he never said anyone misses be at all. The only thing he said was to inform him when I'd be back...Urrrggghhh...!

BOYS...! Can't understand them at times...!"

"So Granny, you said I could bring these pork ribs along with me to replenish the Essense when I use the Cruising Along over a long period of time right? I didn't know foods like this would do just that because that boy told me to purchase salted eggs and dumplings only."

"Urrrgghh...that boy really...so cheapskate...!"

"Yes, cutie pie...meat is the best supplement to replenish your Essense and also your Health. Both at the same time, but meat has a cooling down period of 2 minutes and if you consume too much, it will end up around the edges and look like a wide vehicle."

"Granny, you always talk about rounded around the edges and stuff like that. My metabolism rate is so high that if I eat a plate of rice it became a quarter only and I will become hungry in a few moments later."

"That's why I never stop munching, Hii...Hii...Hii...! And that boy always eye on me whenever I'm snacking."

"Heh Heh...you two seems like a wok and a ladle. No matter how gentle you are with them during cooking, there would always be sounds of friction. Alright..you had readied all your stuff already, right? I've gotten the maid to prepare you with the ribs. Once you feel your Essense had gone down to almost 15%, don't wait but open up the pack and eat along the way while on Cruising Along mode."

"Thanks, Granny, you're the best...!"

Granny is always like this, always watching over all the little things and worry when I've got a single mosquito on my arms or legs. My father would be the one suffering from her endless chivvy. Hii...Hii...Hii...

My afternoon snack had been packed and it's time for me to bid adieu...I was literally smothered by Granny's kisses as she ushered me off to the door and I walked out and waved at her and made my journey back.

The person who handles the yellow banana boat was there and I rode on his stretched scrotum to get across safely and dry. I bade him farewell and he vanished into thin air afterwards.

The sun was shining warmly and I chose to take the same route as I came a week before. It's too early to engage Cruising Along since I was in no hurry to return back and I would reach there by 7 pm or so on normal walking speed.

"Heh...I got a whole pack of chips and chocolates inside my haversack so I need not worry if I do get hungry along the way. I've been alone for almost 2 seasons and I've gotten used to it. But I also can't wait to get back with the guys too."

"I wonder what those guys were up to since I'm gone. Robyn just sent me a long message while Jean Lethal was quiet the whole time, maybe he doesn't want to be a lampost in between me and Robyn. Heh...he should get himself a local girl to keep himself company."

*VOOM VOOM* *VOOM VOOM*

"What kind of sounds is that? It sounded like a Cruising Along had been activated somewhere...is that one of the guys welcoming me and wished to escort me back or something? But the sound seems to be awfully loud to be one of us...!"

"Hello, stranger...mind telling me where this place is?!" a voice adjacent me spoke up with a rather booming voice that made me stop in my tracks! I looked around and saw a young man aged somewhere in the mid-20s was gesturing me to stop as he asked for some directions.

The young man walked over and saw his name above his head was Archer and it was in green, meaning he was in Peace Mode. "Are you lost, Archer? Where are you heading and where are you from?" I asked and something was with this young man as I observed carefully.

His cloth armour seemed to give a kind of bluish-green glow and the same goes to his longbow. "I'm from Nuneaton and I wish to head to the city but I have no idea how. Do you have a map where I can trade?"

"I don't have a map but you can get it at a trading area from a peddler from a settlement nearby here. See that wisp of smoke there about 5 km away or so? That's the nearest settlement."

"Ah...that's right. Thank you so much...I'd be on my way now..."

"Wait...can I ask you a question...what's that glow on your weapon and armour? And your Cruising Along was faster than mine."

"Oh, this...? If you have an Epic weapon or armour like what you are wearing now, you can insert the sockets and then send it for refinement. If you refined your equipment, it would be upgraded to 3 tiers and the 1st refinement would have a slight glow. This is my 2nd refinement."

"Refinement also would increase it's attributed to at least a multiplier of 1.25 depending on the gems that were imbued in the sockets. The higher the grade the higher is the multiplier is."

"Head to Nuneaton and refine your equipment there, you spend a lot of gold per refinement though. If it failed, your whole equipment will disappear."

"How much is that per refinement?"

"50 for the basic tier, 150 for the second one while the highest one costs 300."

"How do you earn more coins like shillings and gold to afford in your refinements?"

"Ahhh...just refine your weapon first. The first tier refinement would allow you to get shillings, then you can change it for gold. With a basic tier refinement, it won't be long to get the 2nd tier. From then, slowly upgrade the rest of your equipment."

"Ah..thank you so much for your kind advice and tips...."

"So long Matilda...may we cross path again someday..."

*VOOM VOOM* *VOOM VOOM*

"I forgot to ask about his Cruising Along...*tsk*...not only was he good looking but his weapons and armour had a sheen or aura that makes it more menacing? Attractive? I don't know, but I'd surely want to have that refinement."

"50 gold coins, no joke...!! I wonder what level was he and what levels are his weapons and armour...is he one fat rich kid that pays to win using his parent's credit card or so?"

"Too many things to think right now lah.....Nuneaton. Better ask the half dimwit dum dum if he knows about it it not?"

I activated ny Cruising Along and heads back to our encampments where I had left 7 days ago.

=*=

"Sir...you think ma'am would be surprised and delighted on what we did to our camp right now? It looks kind of like a fiesta with these streamers handing around the branches and a banner that you made that says 'WELCOME BACK'."

"The spread of potato chips with dippings, pork dumplings, creamed filled comes and blueberry muffins plus the garlic fried rice and chicken chops, crabs and clams are like a birthday celebration."

"Hahaha...its just a little something, it's for our guests and us as well...its a small welcoming party for her. She's going to be a surprise and delighted as well. Furthermore, it's been a while since she was with me before we met Jean Lethal and then a month later it's you too."

"Well, sir...I'm not fitting to be an adventurer but I'm best at being support staff, fishing, growing and trappings are my main strong points in survival and I am sure would be of best service for the band."

"Yes, Will, you had done a great deal. Our farm alone is thriving and it would be a week when the peas and string beans can be harvested. They had grown so tall with the nutrients and composed that you had given them."

"Hahahahaha...if ever we leave this camp in 90 days, the next person who took over this would definitely survive in the wild with these farms we would leave behind."

"Well boss, that's true you know. What happened to the hearth that we built in the last camp? Would anyone be able to use that? It's a waste to leave it there though."

"JL...nothing would go to waste. The moment someone enters the hearth, it would be notified through our systems and it would be up to us to let the adventurer use the hearth or not. I saw that being a hearth member is not like being in a band or party, it's more for them to seek shelter and have no authority to change the design. But they could build chests to store their items."

"I see Boss, so we could set the permission level once we leave a certain camp, right? That's a pretty cool idea boss. These hearths that we set up would be at a distance of 10km or so, right?"

"Yes, something like that. I've marked our next destination after 90 days of stay here that had a nice forested area and also some mines and monsters to grind. We will discuss this further when Matilda comes back and with the dwarfs too when the time comes."

Sometime later after 7 pm when it was time for the dwarfs to emerge from their mineshaft, a familiar female voice was squealing on delight the moment she entered the camp.

"Wwwaahhhhhh...whose idea is this of setting up the place with streamers and banner to welcome me back? Hii...Hii...Hii...and look at the spread. Is it someone's birthday or what...?"

"Welcome back ma'am, sir Robyn is at the farm trying to move as a scarecrow. He's a bit bashful when he made this to you and hope you find it a delight."

"Ah, Will...you had been well, don't you? Hii...Hii...Hii...Oh look, the floating bridge platform is ready...how nice...! Heh, here comes JL...Hey, JL...hows things over here?"

"Oh...welcome back Matilda...yeah...things had been great, this floating bridge platform also works very fine. We got clams and crabs for you on the dining table. We are now waiting for the dwarfs to done and join in the feast."

"Alright...I'm going to find the half dimwit dum dum over at the farm...he dares have the cheek to hide from me and not welcome me vocally..."